xv, 334 pages : 23 cm

Includes bibliographical references (pages 307-315) and index

pt. 1. Logic. The search for knowledge school : an introduction to logic and proof -- How to persuade Jesus : is the Pythagorean Theorem true? -- The simple and obvious truth : the role of intuition and belief in mathematics -- What the tortoise said to Achilles : logic and its loopholes -- Legendre's lament : strange worlds of non-Euclidean geometry -- pt. 2. Infinity. Evan's insight : counting to infinity -- Encounters on the Aegean : where the finite meets the infinite -- Zindo the Trojan superman : Zeno's paradoxes of motion -- Finding Pegasus : do irrational numbers exist? -- Some things never end : the logic of mathematical induction -- All else is the work of man : the surprising arguments of set theory -- pt. 3. Reality. A fistful of chips : does math really reflect the real world? -- Who's got a royal flush : making predictions with probability -- Boxcars and snake eyes : the law of large numbers -- Anna's accusation : tests for truth -- Dr. Mortimer, I presume -- Plausible reasoning in science and math -- Appendix 1. Proof that all triangles are isosceles -- Appendix 2. A method for unraveling syllogisms -- Appendix 3. Density of irrationals on the number line -- Appendix 4. Cantor's demonstration that the real numbers are uncountable

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